Andrzej Fonfara: It’s time to prove myself

Report and photo by Przemek Garczarczyk

“I’m still a relatively young 24-year-old in this business but I don’t have time and patience to fight nobodys. This is why I had no problem with accepting Glen’s challenge,“ said “Polish Prince” Andrzej Fonfara (22-2, 12 KOs) who on Friday will have test of his life fighting former world champion Glen Johnson (51-16, 35 KOs) at UIC Pavilion in Chicago. Fonfara, a Chicago favorite can count on his fanatic Polish fans to be supporting him as he fights in the main event during ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights.

You were training in 110 degree heat at Chicago Boxing Club, going through 10-rounders and three sparring partners like it was nothing. Are you in the shape of your life?

I have to be, knowing that Glen Johnson is an ultimate professional and he will be 100-percent ready for this upcoming Friday. Now we just have to go through all these fight week activities and can step into the ring.

Some well respected boxing specialists are questioning idea of this fight. Something about differences in experience, all around skills, etc…

So what? You have to prove yourself in the ring, this is not a sport for the weak-minded. What’s the point of fighting if you don’t believe in your skills? We all know that the Johnson fight could be decided depending how good my jab will be, how strong and powerful my right hand has to be. Who said that I will not be able to keep up with Glen if he attempts to be up close and personal for the whole night? Most of the people who are voicing their opinions did not see me live, did not see the work I put in with my trainer Sam Colonna in the last 10 weeks. We will fight on July 13, nobody punched anybody yet, there are no scorecards filled up. Like the old saying in boxing – this is why we have the fights – to find out who is better.

In a recent interview, Glen Johnson said that this is a “do or die” fight for him and he hopes to knock you out.

Good for him. I can also said that if I knock him out, it will be ten straight KOs wins for me. We all know, that all his or my speeches make no difference. We both just want to fight.